Need Help Paying The Rent In Essex County? Low-Income Subsidy Available

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Are you living alone and making less than $18,850 in Essex County? You might be eligible for the State of New Jersey Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) and housing subsidies that can help make ends meet.

According to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, applications for the SRAP program will be open until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 10.

Here’s a description of the program:

“The State of New Jersey Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) is a state funded program that provides housing subsidies on behalf of extremely low-income residents, for decent, safe and sanitary housing. Persons applying must meet all applicable SRAP income and eligibility requirements. Pre-applications for housing assistance will be accepted from extremely low-income residents and households based on the income limits established by HUD. You must be 18 years of age or older to apply, or be an emancipated minor. Only one (1) pre-application per household will be accepted.”

In Essex County, applicants must earn less than $18,850 (single person households) to qualify. A two-person household must earn less than $21,550, a three-person household must earn less than $24,250 and a four-person household must earn less than $26,900.

See the complete income limit chart for multi-person households here.

Pre-applications will be accepted online from 10 a.m. on March 6 until 5 p.m. on March 10. All pre-applications submitted online during that time will be entered into a database and a lottery system will be used to select preapplications for waiting lists. Applicants must have an email address to apply.

• Learn more about the program and apply here.

Disabled residents who need assistance with submitting a pre-application can contact the DCA at 609-292-4080 (select option 8 from the menu or dial 609-633-6157 and request a reasonable accommodation).

Individuals selected by the lottery will be notified via email which may take several weeks, officials said.

Photo: Flickr Commons

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